Trump White House ringed by ‘swamp’ denizens despite pledge

Vice President Mike Pence, left, watches as President Donald Trump prepares to sign his first executive order, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Vice President Mike Pence, left, watches as President Donald Trump prepares to sign his first executive order, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Donald Trump embraces a Democratic presidential icon – and the controversy that comes with him

An ice covered statue of Andrew Jackson is seen in Washington's Lafayette Square, on March 2, 2015. Andrew Jackson is such a pillar of the Democratic Party that its biggest fundraising day is called "Jefferson-Jackson Day," with Jefferson-Jackson Dinners being held all across the country.

Senate confirms Trump’s picks for defense, homeland security

The Republican-led Senate, taking little time to fill two critical national security posts, overwhelmingly confirmed a pair of retired Marine generals tapped by President Donald Trump to run the Pentagon and secure America's borders. A little more than an hour later, Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office to James Mattis to be defense secretary and John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

The Latest: Trump says he’ll win old-fashioned way’ in 2020

But he tells his campaign donors, "The next time we're going to win the old-fashioned way" because of how he and his cabinet will have performed. And he jokes that he won't mind if it ends up raining Friday, "because people will realize it's my real hair."

Tensions rise at North Dakota pipeline as Trump set to take White House

Tensions have increased this week near the construction site of the Dakota Access pipeline, with repeated clashes between protesters and police ahead of Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, an unabashed fan of the $3.8 billion project. Police used tear gas and fired bean-bag rounds to disperse crowds, and have arrested nearly 40 people since Monday, many of them on a bridge that has been the site of frequent confrontations, law enforcement officials said.

Inaugural cheers, fireworks: Trump sweeps in for his big day

Ready for his big moment, Donald Trump swept into Washington on a military jet Thursday for three days of inaugural festivities and pledged to unify a nation that is divided and clamoring for change. Washington braced for an onslaught of crowds and demonstrators - with all the attendant hoopla and hand-wringing.

Trump arrives in Washington with a wave and a salute

Ready for his big moment, Donald Trump traded in his beloved private plane for a military jet Thursday and swooped into Washington for three days of inaugural festivities. As the president-elect left New York behind, the capital braced for an onslaught of inaugural crowds and demonstrators numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

The Latest: White House briefings to be held in usual room

In this Dec. 1, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence wave as they visit to Carrier factory in Indianapolis, Ind. Donald Trump enters the White House on Jan. 20 just as he entered the race for president: defiant, unfiltered, unbound by tradition and utterly confident in his chosen course.

Pence: George H.W. Bush good model for VP job

Vice President-elect Mike Pence is looking to a former US vice president-turned-president as a model for his new role as he prepares to assume the second-highest office in the country. He recently spoke on the phone with former President George H.W. Bush, Pence told CNN's Dana Bash in an interview Wednesday, and said the Ronald Reagan's former vice president offered him some advice.

The perks of being vice president

The role of vice president has not only become more powerful since it was derided as not worth a bucket of spit, it also comes with plenty of perks. The perks of being vice president The role of vice president has not only become more powerful since it was derided as not worth a bucket of spit, it also comes with plenty of perks.

Pence’s hometown band rushes to prep for inaugural parade

It's a rainy Tuesday in January, and the Columbus North High School marching band has just eight days and three practices until they march in the parade after the inauguration of Donald Trump and Mike Pence on Jan. 20. The region is under a thunderstorm watch during this particular 7 p.m. practice, but 150 marching band members aren't paying attention to the weather. They're playing instruments in various parts of the high school - the alma mater of Vice President-elect Mike Pence - about an hour south of Indianapolis learning music they started rehearsing that night.

Pence looks like he will be Trump’s inside man in Congress

In this Jan. 4, 2017 photo, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, joined by House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mike Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress before becoming Indiana's governor, is making frequent visits to Capitol Hill and promising close coordination with lawmakers as Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House.

Inauguration in sight, Trump continues Twitter assault

The inaugural parade presidential reviewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, is nearly completed in preparation for the 58th presidential inauguration, on Friday, Jan. 20. less The inaugural parade presidential reviewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, is nearly completed in preparation for the 58th presidential inauguration, on Friday, ... more NEW YORK - His inauguration days away, President-elect Donald Trump is continuing to lash out at critics in the intelligence community and Democrats in Congress who are vowing to skip his swearing-in ceremony.

Vice President-Elect Pence Will Take Oath of Office On Reagan Family Bible

Vice President-elect Mike Pence will take the oath of office with a Bible once used by conservative hero and former President Ronald Reagan, the inaugural committee for President-elect Trump announced. Pence's oath will be administered by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas on the steps of the U.S. Capitol immediately after Trump is sworn into office by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 45th president of the United States.

Ryan: GOP will repeal, replace Obamacare at same time

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday Republicans plan to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law at the same time they approve a GOP replacement plan. "We want to do this at the same time, and in some cases in the same bill," Ryan said during a town hall in Washington sponsored by CNN and moderated by Jake Tapper.

The Senate is about to kick off its repeal of Obamacare

The US Senate is about to undertake a long evening session of votes in the first step towards a repeal of the Affordable Care Act , better known as Obamacare. The Senate will vote on well over 100 amendments to a budgetary resolution in what is called a "vote-a-rama."

The Latest: Trump says he may maintain some Russia sanctions

President-elect Donald Trump says he will probably maintain some of the Obama administration's recent sanctions against Russia, although he adds that he might do away with them if Russia works with the U.S. on battling terrorists and achieving other goals. Trump tells The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday night that "if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions?" The Journal also asked Trump if he is committed to the "One China" policy, in which the U.S. doesn't officially recognize Taiwan's breakaway government.

How Mike Pompeo went from one of Trump’s biggest critics to one of his biggest fans

CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaks at a Senate committee hearing on Feb. 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill. He was nominated as the new secretary of state, replacing Rex Tillerson, on March 13. CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaks at a Senate committee hearing on Feb. 13, 2018, on Capitol Hill.